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India’s Grain, Oilseeds Output Estimate 264.4MT in 2013-14

INDIA - Indian agriculture sector will see a record production of food grains and oilseeds in the year 2013-14, according to the latest Economic Survey for 2013-14, writes Jagdish Kumar.

As per the third Advance Estimates, the production of food grains is likely to touch a record output of 264.4 million tonnes in 2013-14 showing an increase of 2.88 per cent over the previous year.

Similarly, oilseeds are likely to have a record output of 32.4 million tonnes showing an increase of 4.85 per cent over the previous year. The production of rice is expected to be 106.3 million tonnes and of wheat 95.8 million tonnes. Cotton will touch a production of 36.5 million tonnes in 2013-14, the survey adds.

Overall, the agricultural sector is expected to grow at the rate of 4.7 per cent in the year 2013-14.

The agriculture sector grew at a rate of 4.1 per cent during the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-08 to 2011-12).

The integrated scheme of oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize (ISOPOM) has resulted in record production of 19.6 million tonnes of pulses (i.e., 7.10 per cent increase over previous year), oilseeds production at a record of 32.4 million tonnes (4.85 per cent increase over previous year) and maize gave a record production of 24.2 million tonnes (increase of 8.52 per cent over previous year).

The Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (TMO&OP) has been introduced in the Twelfth Plan to realize substantial increase in domestic production of edible oilseeds/oil, which is 50 per cent short of the domestic demand.

In 2013-14, the higher production in case of most of the major crops has been achieved by expanding area rather than yield/productivity.

However, Groundnut with productivity of 1723 kg per hectare (ha) has shown the largest jump in yield i.e., 73.17 per cent over the previous year. Tur productivity at 857 kg/ha increased by 10.44 per cent while yield of cotton (529 kg/ha) also showed an increase of 8.85 per cent. Gram productivity (974 kg/ha) showed the largest productivity decline i.e., 5.98 per cent in 2013-14.

The net availability of food grains increased to 229.1 million tonnes , an increase of 15 per cent over last year and that of edible oils increased to 12.7 kg per year in 2013. The per capita net availability of food grains also rose to 186.4 kg per year in 2013 from 162.1 kg per year in 2009.

Expansion in area and increases in the Minimum Support Prices of select agricultural crops, have resulted in higher food grains production.

As per the 3rd average estimates, the acreage under food grains increased to 126.2 million ha and to 28.2 million ha under oilseeds.